Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
Rutgers
20-Hit Effort Leads CMU Baseball Sweep
3/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Brett Schriber, CMUChippewas.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Patience at the plate and dominant pitching led the Central Michigan baseball team to a pair of wins on Saturday over Rutgers in the Indiana State Tournament.
The Chippewas collected eight hits including three from freshman Zach McKinstry en route to a 3-1 win in the opener. CMU (13-6) exploded for 12 hits in the nightcap in posting a 9-2 victory.
Alex Borglin and Tyler Huntey added two hits each, Huntey drove in two runs, and Cody Leichman picked up an RBI with a sacrifice fly to back starter Nick Deeg (3-1) in game one.
Deeg, a sophomore left-hander, struck out two over seven scoreless innings for the win.
"He was aggressive in the zone and commanded his fastball pretty good," CMU coach Steve Jaksa said. "He had good movement on his fastball and he didn't really throw his breaking stuff early.
"He was able to beat them with his fastball through the first four innings. Pretty good outing and I was really pleased with how he pitched overall. He even initiated a double play, a 1-4-3 double play comebacker. He did a really nice job overall."
Jimmy McNamara worked the eighth and Tim Black pitched the ninth for his seventh save. Black was tied for fifth in the nation in saves entering the game.
The Chippewas used a walk, a bunt single and a Rutgers error to push across a run and break a 2-2 tie in the sixth inning of the nightcap.
CMU exploded for five runs in the seventh and tacked on another in the eighth to put the game out of reach.
Pat MacKenzie's two-run single and McKinstry's RBI double highlighted the five-run seventh. The Chippewas' Joe Houlihan and Nick Regnier also drew bases-loaded walks to force in runs.
Houlihan drove in the run in the eighth with a single.
Jason Gamble (2-1) went 6 1/3 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits while striking out two and walking one for the win.
"He's (Gamble) getting more comfortable," Jaksa said. "I thought he pitched really well and kept his pitch count down."
Braxton Markle, Sean Martens and Connor Kelly each pitched in relief, combining to allow just one hit over the final 2 2/3 innings.
The Chippewas turned two double plays in the game, and committed just one error on the day.
CMU is slated to play its fourth and final game of the invitational Sunday at 11 a.m. against Canisius.
